Portable ironing machine



Nov. 1o, 1925. 1,560,990

M. HEDGLON PORTABLE IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan'. 2:5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov, 10,1925. 1,560,990.

M. HEDGLON PQRTABLE IRONING MACH INE j Filed Jan. 23, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 v Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE.

MEAD HEDGLON, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE IRONING MACHINE.

Application filed January 23, 1925.

To d yelio/nt -z't may comin/'fn A Be itl nown that I, Mic-in HEDGLON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, inthe county oi Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Ironing "Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing machines, designed particularly for household use, and has for its object to provide a novel, simple Yand light machine,A

smoothing of the articles, as they are moved over a heated surface of thel shoe. In the present case, the ironing roll constitutes the driven member of the machine, which is rotatable in a fixed horizontal plane, by an electric motor, and the shoe is disposed directly bcncathand substantially concentric to the roll. rI he rear side of the shoe is shown pivoted to the frame, in a manner to allow the shoe to be moved bodily, as wcll as to twistor rotate in a horizontal plane relatively to the axis of the roll. The forward side of the shoe is allowed a certain range of adjustment towards and away from the roll in a vertical plane, for facilitating applying and adjusting the articles, by means of an eccentric mechanism, which is controlled manually by a lever, and with the latter is associated adjustable tension means, by which a variable ironing pressure may be effected and maintained. The ar? rangement of the pivot and eccentric mecha` nisms is such that, any inequalities of the ,ironing roll itself, as well as any variations in the thickness of the articles to be ironed are taken care of by the flexing of the tension means, and also by the iioatable nature of the shoe, due to the peculiar arrangement of the shoes pivot. A particular object of this invention is to provide an ironing machine of the class, which is arranged to be operated and controlled by a person who may sit facing the frontside of the machine, instead of having to stand and lean over the machine, as heretofore. And a further ubicct is to provide an ironing machine Serial No. 4,262.

whereby certain portions of the articles, such for example, as the cuffs and collar-bands 0f shirts, as well as circular margins or other portions of dresses or skirts', and the like, may be ironed at the remote open end of the machine, without requiring the whole garment to be passed or fed through the machine.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in the ironing machine shown and described in my pending application filed September 25, 1924, Serial No. 739938.

The various features and parts of the invention will be understood from the detailed description which follows and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a topv plan view of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is a partial front side elevation and a partial central vertical longitudinal section; the, latter being taken ou lin-e 2-2 of Figi l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the clutch that controls'the ironing roll. Fig. 4 is a front end elevation with the cover of the gear casing removed; showing the gear train that operates the ironing roll; also showing the eccentric mechanism by which certain movements of the shoe are controlled. Fig. 5 is a broken vertical cross-section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2; showing the shoe lowered from the ironing roll. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the shoe in the ironing position. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the ironing roll and the slices; showing the shoe twisted horizontally at an angle to the axis of the ironing roll. And Fig. 8 is a rear-end elevation of the machine.

In the drawings, 2 represents a common wooden base, upon which the combined :ironing and driving mechanism is rigidly mounted, and rendered easily portable, as one part. One of the ironing members preferably consists of a heavily padded ironing roll 3, which is driven by a motor 4, the said roll being supported for operation in a fixed horizontal plane, by means of spaced rigid brackets 5 and 6. The other member comprises a trough-like ironing shoe 7, substantially the same length as the roll 3, but being broader and normally projecting beyond the opposite sides of the roll, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, G and 7. The trough 7 of the shoe is normally disposed concentric to the roll 3, and may be 'tinted longitudinally, as shown at 7X in Fig. 5, for increasingthe frictional area of the ironing surface, as

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well as for ventilating the shoe, by allowing the vapor from the damp articles to escape at the opposite ends of the shoe.

The roll 3 consists of a hollow tubular body 3 having normally open ends, in which are permanently disposed concentric heads 3, which are bored out centrally to receive similar shaft-sections 8 8', the latter constituting the axis of the roll 3, the said shafts preferably being rigidly secured to the heads 3, bymeans of pins 8a. The roll 3 is externally covered by a relatively thick layer of padding, 3b, for suitably cushioning the roll, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6.

The top portion of the bracket 5 comprises a hollow body 5', in which housed a train of gears, by whichthe power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the roll 3. The brackets 5 and 6 are provided with bottom flanges through which bolts 5a are driven, for rigidly securing the brackets to the base 2. The gear-train consists of a worm 9, which is rigid on a shaft 9, the latter being' journalled in bearings 5". Upon the shaft 9 is mounted one member 10, of a clutch, the other member 10 of the clutch being rigid on shaft 4 of the motor.

The worm 9 meshes and drives a relatively large gear 12, which is journalled on a stationary shaft 12', the latter being supported by the casing 5, and also by the cover 5 of the casing, as best seen in Fig, 2. The gear 12 Supports and drives a pinion 13, which meshes and drives a relatively large spur-gear 14, the latter gear being arranged concentric to the roll 3, as shown in Fig. 4. The gear 14 is preferably loosely mounted on the shaft 8, upon which it may idle, when the roll 3 is stationary. The gear 14 is arranged to be driven constantly by the motor, and the roll 3 is driven during the ironing operations by a clutch c, which comprises the outer end of the hub 14 of gear 14, and the corresponding end of an aligning sleeve 8b, which is keyed to and is slidable on the shaft 8, as shown at 8C, in Figs. 2` and 3. The sleeve 8b is journalled in a bearing 5e of the cap 5c, and its outer end is formed with a liob 8d, by which the sleeve may be moved axially on shaft 8 relatively to the roll 3, for Starting and stopping the said roll.

The rear edge of the shoe 7 is pivotally supported by a stationary rod or shaft 15, which passes loosely through, and plays in slots 15 formed in flanges 15a, of the opposite ends of the shoe, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and G. By this construction and arrangement the shoe 7 may be moved forwardly and backwardly as well as circularly on the rod 15. The ends of the rod 15 extends beyond the ends of the shoe and are disposed rigidly in, and are supported by, integral arms or lugs 5i and 6 of the brackets 5 and 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The

upper rear portion of the shoe is formed round, for facilitating the discharge of the ironed articles. The forward edge of the shoe is fitted with a similar shaft or rod 17, Whose ends also project beyond the ends of the shoe, and upon these projecting ends are mounted respectively a crank 17 and an operating lever or crank 18, as shown in Figs. l, 4, 5 and G. The crank 17 and the lever 18 are formed with similar perforated lobes, as 17a and 18 (see Figs. 2 and 4), which are engaged by the upper hook-endsof guide-rods 19-19. Both of the said rods extend downwardly from the lobes and are loosely inserted through perforated extensions 5X and 6 of the brackets and G. The rods 19--19 are similarly threaded intermediate their ends to receive adjusting nuts 20. Between the nuts 2O and the said extensions are disposed similar coil compression springs 21, through which the said rods pass, the said springs being disposed between washers 21-211, as best seen in Fig. 4, in which the full lines show the lever 18 depressed and the springs slightly compressed fo-r lifting, and for holding the forward side of the shoe 7 in the ironing position, shown in Figs. 4 and 6. When the lever 18 is moved to the dotted position shown in Fig. 4 and the full line position shown in F ig. 5, it effects the lowering' of the forward side of shoe 7 away from the roll 3, by gravity, as shown in Fig. 5. The perforations of lobes 17a and 18 are so disposed that When lever 18 is lowered to the full line position shown in Figs. 4 and G, the points of pivotal'contact of the rods 19-19 are moved inwardly past, or eccentric to, the axis of shaft 17, and prevents the accidental release and lowering of the shoe, ,until vthe operator swings the lever 18 upwardly, as to the dotted position, shown in Fig. 4 and the full line position shown in Fig. 5. The nuts 2O are employed 'for regulating' the tension of the springs 21,

for lifting and for sustaining the load of the relatively heavy shoe, as well as for creating the additional pressure of the shoe against the undersidero-f the roll 3, required for performing the ironing work. When the lever 18 is swung upwardy to the dotted or release position, the rods 19-19 are also lifted thereby sutliciently to relieve the pressure of the nuts against the springs 21. Thisallows the forward edge of the shoe 7 to gravitate away from the roll 3, as shown in Fig. 5; the extent of this lowering of the shoe being limited by the spacing of the shaft 17 and the perforations of the lobes 17a in which the rods 19-19 are pivoted. This releasing of the lever 18, also allows the springs 21 to relax and lengthen, but the said springs still continue to support the shoe, when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 5, and said springs therefore tend to regulate or limit the gravitative travel of said shoe. The

.lever 18 is provided with a rearwardly facing lug 1S?, which is arranged toengage a screwor stud 7 carried by 'the shoe, for f v l ydurable and light, and may be produced arresting the releasing movement of the lever, as shown 1n Fig. gl., The top` face of the forward edge-of the shoe 7 is normally flat, and to the said edge is detachably applied, preferably in the same plane, a table 22,' upon which the unironed articles may rest while being adjusted and fed-towards the roll 3, as shown in Fig. 6. The table 22 is spaced from the shoe by asbestos or other heat resisting spacers 22, which tend to keep the table cool, and the table is secured to the shoe by bolts 22a, as shown in Fig. t.

The medial longitudinal portion of the shoe 7 is preferably hollow and comprises a heating chamber 7d, in which is disposed the electric heating element consisting of a horse-shoe shaped part 28, as shown in Figs. 1, t, 5 and G, and the said element may be supplied with current by wires 23 and 23a. rllhe heating of the shoe may be controlled by any suitable 'switch or controlling means (not shown) in a well-known manner. The current for the motor 4, which drives the ironing roll may also be controlled in any usual manner. The arrows in Figs. 4, 5 and indicate the direction of rotation of the roll 3.

In Fig. 7, the shoe 7 is shown at a slight angle relatively to the longitudinal axis of the roll 3, and indicates the twisting or movement of the shoe in a horizontal plane. '.lhis automatic floating action of the shoe will be appreciated, when it is understood that at the instant a piece of cloth, as a, is fed into the machine, as shown in Fig. 6, the

shoe 7 is shifted forwardly on rod 15, until4 the rear portion of the trough makes contact with the right underside of th-e roll. lf the article is the same thickness throughout, the shoe and the roll will be maintained in substantially normal concentric relation, as shown` in Fig. 1. YWhen however, the article is thicker at, say the left margin, than at the right, the extra thickness at the one end will first cause the corresponding portion of the shoe to be forced forwardly and downwardly, while the opposite end will be practically unchanged, and then when the article reaches thel rear side of the trough 7', the thickened end of the article will cause the corresponding portion of the shoe to be moved rearwardly on rod 15, as shown at 7e in Fig. T. These forward and backward movements of the shoe, whether the latter is moved bodily, or whether one or the other end only is shifted, is effected by the play of the shaft 15 in the horizontal slots 15 of the shoe, rl`his floating action of the shoe during the ironing operations is futrther facilitated, by the flexible or resilient nature of the supports 21 at the forward side of the shoe, as explained.

My ironing machine is extremely simple,

at comparatively low cost. The novel arrangement and disposition of the floating shoe, the controlling lever and clutch, and the adjustable tension means, by which the raising and lowering of the shoe is effected, andy also by which the ironing pressure may also, be regulated at will, enables me to provide a light portable device of the class, which may be readily moved from place to place, and may be mounted upon a table, or between tables, or chairs, or other supports during the ironing operations, the said machine being arranged particularly for operation by a person while seated at the front side of the machine, within convenient reach of all of the controlling and operating means.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim, is-- 1. In an ironing machine, the combination with a padded ironing roll, and means for driving said roll, of a heated troughlike shoe mounted horizontally below said roll adapted for horizontal movements in different directions by means of horizontal slots formedadjacent its rear.edge, tension devices supporting the forward side of said shoe, and an eccentric mechanism adapted to cooperateV with said-tension devices for moving said shoe upwardly and downwardly relatively to the roll.`

2. An ironing machine including a driven ironing roll, a heated concave ironing shoe disposed beneath said roll having horizontally slotted brackets enabling the shoe to ytwist in horizontal planes, means for moving said shoe towards and away from said roll, meansfor effecting the floating ot' said shoe in a horizontal plane relatively to said roll, vertically disposed 'tension means Jfor effecting the ironing pressure of the shoe against the underside of said roll, and means for varying the said ironing tension.

3. An ironing machine including a driven ironing roll, a heated concaveironing shoe dispo'sedand movable vhorizontally beneath said roll, tension devices for supporting one side of said shoe, means for increasing and decreasing the tension of said devices, an eccentric mechanism interposed between the shoe and said tension devices adapted for raising and lowering said shoe relatively to the roll, and a platform or table cooperating with a projecting edge o-f the shoe adapted to support the articles while they are being fed horizontally between the roll and shoe. i

4. ln an ironing machine, the combination with a frame, a padded ironing roll supported by the frame, and means for driving said roll, of a heated trough-like shoe pivotally mounted in said frame below said roll adapted to twist in horizontal planes for ironing articles of different thickness, said shoe being provided with means so as to enable the shoe to be swung downwardly out of Contact with the roll for applying and adjusting the articles, and tension devices adapted to eifect the ironing pressure of the shoe against the underside of the roll.

ln a portable ironing machine, the combination with an ironing` roll rotatable in a fixed horizontal plane, and means for driving said ioll, of a heated concave shoe mounted horizontally below said roll, means for pivotally-fy supporting one side ot' said shoe whereby the shoe is adapted to move forwardly and backwardly as well as to twist in a horizontal plane for ironing articles of different thickness, tension devices for resiliently supporting the other side of said shoe, and a. manually operable eccentric mechanism adapted for moving the tension controlled side ot' said shoe towards and away from the roll and for locking the shoe in the ironing position.

6. In a portable ironing machine the combination with a padded ironing roll, of a heated concave shoe having registering horizontal slots adjacent its rear side, means engaging said slots whereby the shoe may be moved in different directions in a horizontal plane, and whereby the forward side of the shoe may be moved in a vertical arcv relatively to the ironing roll, tension devices for resiliently supporting the forward side of the shoe, and cranks pivoted to the ends of the shoe and operatively connected with said tension devices adapted to compress and relax said tension devices for raising and lowering said shoe, said cranks adapted for locking said shoe in the ironing position.

7. A portable ironing` machine comprising a heated concave shoe having slotted horizontal bearings at its opposite" ends, spaced brackets for supporting the shoe, corresponding portions of said brackets supporting a pivotal member adapted to engage and play in said'slotted bearings, whereby the forward side of the shoe may be raised and lowered and said shoe may be twisted or rotated in a horizontal plane iipon said member, an ironing roll externally padded rotatable in the concave face of the shoe, said roll beingsupported by said brackets and adapted to be rotated in a fixed horizontal plane, means for driving said roll, and an eccentric mechanism adapted for raising and lowering the forward side of said shoe and for holding the shoe in ironing contact with the roll.

8. The combination with spaced frame sections connected by a rigidy rod, an ironing roll journalled in the frame, and a motor for driving said roll, of a ioating heated concave shoe disposed horizontally below said roll, said shoe having horizontal slotted bearings adjacent its rear side through which said rod loosely passes, guide-rods for supporting the forward side of the shoe, tension springs mounted on said rods adapted to normally' sustain the weight of the forward side of the shoe, and manually operable means carried by said shoe adapted to cooperate with the said springs for moving the shoe upwardly towards the said roll, and said means being adapted to relax the said springs for effecting the gravitation of the forward side of the shoe from said roll.

S). In a portable ironing machine the combination with a frame supporting a pivot rod, a driven ironing roll supported by said frame, and power means for operating the said roll, of a heated trough-like shoe disposed horizontally in said frame beneath said roll and having horizontal slots near its rear side engaged by said pivot rod whereby the said shoe may be moved horizontally as well as towards and away from the bottom side of relatively to said roll, tension devices for resiliently supporting the forward side of said shoe, and means cooperating with said devices for effecting the pressure of said shoe against said roll during eai'h ironing operation.

, .10. A portable ironing machine including spaced brackets, a stationary rod supported by the brackets, a heated concave shoe disposed horizontally between the brackets, the rear side of said shoe being pivoted by and slidable upon said rod, the forward side of said shoe being provided with means so as to enable the shoe to be swung upwardly and downwardly, an ironing roll for frictionally moving articles to be ironed over the concave face of the shoe, said roll being rotatable in a fixed horizontal plane above said shoe, means for'driving said roll, tension means for resiliently supporting the forward side of said shoe, and a lever pivoted to the shoe and eccentrically connected with said tension means adapted to increase and decrease the tension and for effecting the swinging movements of said shoe relatively to the roll.

11. A portable ironing machine including Lacasse of the shoe, means for driving said roll, and means for starting' and stopping the roll.

l2. ln a portable ironing' machine, the combination with a trame comprising spaced brackets, and a rod carried by corresponding portions of said brackets, of a heated troughlike shoe disposed between said brackets, said shoe having similar horizontal slots tor pivoting and sliding the shoe horizontally upon said rod, a padded ironing roll mounted between said brackets, above, and being rotatable in. the trough of said shoe, a motor tor driving` said roll, means for controlling the rotation ot' the i'oll, means tor moving the tor 'ard side of said shoe towards and away troin the underside of the roll, aud means for varying' the ironing pressure ot the said shoe against the im- -derside ot' the said roll- 13. A portable ironing' machine comprising; a heated concave shot` having registering horizontal slots at its opposite ends, spaced brackets tor supporting;- the rear side ot' shoe, corresponding portions ot said brackets being connected by a rigid rod adapted to slidably engage the slots ot said shoe. whereby the forward side of said shoe may be raised' and lowered and said shoe may be moved forwardly, backwardly and to twist in a horizontal plane, an ironing roll externally padded rotatable in the concave tace ot said shoe, said roll being supported by said brackets and adapted to be rotated in a lined horizontal plane, crankn pivotallyv mounted on the ends of said shoe and rockable relatively to the shoe, tension devices adapted to normally support the weight ot the forward side of the shoe, and

means coopearting with said cranks and said tension devices for moving said shoe relatively to the underside of the press roll.

lil, In a portable ironing machine the combination with a frame having spaced portions tied by a stationary shaft, a driven ironing roll supported by said frame, and power means for operating the said roll, ot a heated trough-like shoe disposed in said traine beneath said roll and having horizontal slots pivotally and slidably supporting the rea r side ot the shoe upon said shaft, whereby the said shoe may be moved universally in a horizontal plane and its torward side may be swung' towards and away 'from said roll, tension devices for supportinev and limiting' the swinging,l movement ot the forward side oi" said shoe," and eccentric means adapted `to compress the tension devices tor eii'ecting the ironing pressure oit the shoe against. said roll, said eccentric means adapted o hold the shoe unyieldingly against the under side ot the roll during the ironing;l periods, and for relaxing the tension of said devices for ei'lecting` the gravitation ot the shoe from said roll at the end of each ironing' period.

15.111 a portable ironingmachine, the combination with a padded revoluble roll, ot a heated trough-like shoe disposed `horizontally beneath said roll and having horizontal slots near one edge enabling lthe shoe to twist in horizontal planes during; the ironing operations, and means for moving the opposite edge of the shoe towards and away from the roll.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

- MEAD HEDGLN. 

